Dual stream nozzle and valve



April. 14, 1964 w. M. HAEssLER ETAL DUAL STREAM NozzLE AND VALVE Filed July e, 1961 A, EMMA@ BY vr/M H1/4A@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Oli 3,128,791 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 lice 3,128,791 DUAL STREAM NZZLE AND VALVE Walter M. Haessler, Chatham, and Arthur R. Blair, Clifton, NJ., assignors to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,232 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-609) The present invention relates to re extinguishing systems, and particularly to a dual stream nozzle and a valve for a dry powder lire extinguishing agent.

It has been found that in some constructions for a dry powder iire extinguishing agent dual stream nozzle and valve, the valve has become jammed with powder and practically impossible to operate because the powder has entered between moving surfaces of the valve and becomes compacted in place.

The present invention provides a dry powder re extinguishing agent dual stream nozzle and valve which does not jam or become diicult to manipulate after usage.

The construction in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that the operating mechanism for the valve members is positioned in a separate chamber so that there is no chance of the powder interfering with the operation of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dry powder lire extinguishing agent dual stream nozzle valve which is simple and economical in manufacture, eicient in operation, and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a dry powder re extinguishing agent dual stream nozzle and valve in accordance which the invention with a portion of the valve body shown broken away to disclose the internal construction.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a dual stream nozzle and valve 1 in accordance wtih the invention and which is adapted to dispense a dry powder iire extinguishing agent.

The dual stream nozzle and valve 1 includes a valve body having an inlet 2, dual outlets 4 and 5, a valve chamber 6, and a valve member operating chamber 7. An operating handle 9 is adapted to, in one position to close off ow of a re extinguishing agent, in an intermediate position to permit flow of the fire extinguishing agent through a discharge horn 10, and in another position to shut off flow through a discharge horn 10 and permit a discharge through a discharge tube 11.

The inlet 2 is internally threaded as indicated at 12 and provided with a washer 14 for attachment to a hose (not shown) which may be connected to a source of dry powder tire extinguishing agent as is well known in the art.

The dual outlets 4 and 5 are alike, and are preferably formed of tubular members having threaded portions 15 and 16, the inner ends of which are tapered as indicated at 17 and 19 to form valve seats to receive cooperating surfaces of valve members 26 and 21. The outer endsmlr the tubular members 4 and 5 are provided with shoulders 22 and 24 and enlarged portions 25 and 26 which may be shaped to be engaged by a tool to secure the members in position. It should be noted that the outlet passage of outlet 4 is somewhat larger than the passage of outlet 5 which has a shoulder 27 reducing the cross sectional area of the passage 5.

Outlet 4 is provided with a discharge horn 29 and the outlet passage 4 is terminated in a deector nozzle member 3@ having a plurality of laterally extending openings 31 and an end opening 32. The outlet 5 is terminated in a discharge tube 34 having a passageway 35 of the same diameter throughout.

The inlet 2 is in iluid communication with the valve chamber 6 thereby providing iluid communication from the inlet 2 through the valve chamber 6 past valves 2@ or 21, when either are in the open position, through the outlets 4 or 5 to either the discharge horn 29 or the discharge tube 34.

The valve operating chamber 7 is positioned over the inlet 12 and includes oppositely positioned bosses 37 and 39 which provide journal means for cup-shaped bearing members 40 and 41 positioned at opposite ends of the shaft 42 for the pivotable mounting of the shaft in the nozzle body. The axis of the shaft 42 is approximately parallel to a plane through the outlets 4 and 5. The shaft 42 has a squared surface as indicated at 44 to receive cam members 45 and 46 having openings therein to lit on the squared surface 44 of the shaft, the cam lobes 47 and 48 being positioned at approximately 45 degrees from each other. The cup-shaped bearing members 4t) and 41 are respectively attached to end members 49 and 50 ofthe handle 9, the end members being apertured to receive screws 51 and 52 engaging threaded passages at the opposite ends of the shaft 42. The end members 49 and 50 are secured to the bearing members 4t) and 41 by screws 54 and 55, an O-ring sealing gasket sealing off the valve member operating chamber 7.

Positioned on the shaft 42 between the cam members 45 and 46 is a detent member 54 having a recess 55 to receive a detent ball 56 normally urged towards the detent member 54 by a spring 57. A screw plug 59 backs up the spring 57. The detent ball 56 is adapted to engage its recess 55 at an intermediate position of the handle 9 from full forward to full rear.

The nozzle body is apertured to provide valve stem openings 66 and 61 to receive valve stems 62 and 64, respectively secured to or made integral with the valve members 20 and 21. The valve stems 62 and 64 each have O-ring seals 63. In order to move the valve stems 62 and 64, valve operating rods or tappets 65 and 66 are provided sliding in guiding openings 67 and 69 in the valve member operating chamber 7. The valve stems 62 and 64 are secured to the valve operating rods 65 and 66 in any suitable manner as by providing a threaded recess in the ends of the valve operating rods 65 and 66 to receive threaded ends of the valve stems 62 and 64. At the opposite end of the valve body from the valve chamber 6 are provided tubular extensions 70 and 71 to receive ends 72 and 74 of the valve rods 65 and 66. The tubular extensions are hollow and provide guideway means for the ends 72 and 74 of the valve operatingrods 65 and 66.

The valve operating rods 65 and 66 are slotted as indicated at 75 and 76 to receive the cam members 45 and 46 and slotted as indicated at 77 at right angles to the slots 75 and '76 to receive the shaft 42.

The ends 72 and 74 of the valve operating rods 65 and 66 are threaded as indicated at 81 to receive screw plug members 82 and S4 having recesses 35 and 86 providing bearing surfaces for cam follower ball members 87 and 89. The screw members 82 and 84 are made with collars 90 and 91 to provide abutting means for one end of f at springs 92 and 94. The opposite ends of the springs 92 and 94 abut against thrust washers 95 having a hole therethrough as indicated at 96, and which are held in position by retaining rings 97 engaged in grooves 99 in the inner surfaces of the tubular extensions 70 and 71. The outer ends of the tubular members 70 and 71 are recessed as indicated at 100 to receive button spring closures 101 having spring fingers 102 engaging the recesses 100. Washers 104 are interposed between the underside of the button spring closures 101 and the ends of the tubular members 70 and 71 for seals. Stop members 105 and 106 are provided on the outer surface of the valve body to be contacted by a stop bar 107 of the handle 9 to limit movement of the handle 9 at opposite ends of its path of movement.

The holes 96 in the thrust washers 95 provide access for a screw driver to adjust the valve operating rods or tappets 65 and 66 so that the valve members 20 and 21 are actuated at the desired position of the operating handle 9.

In operation of the dual stream nozzle and valve 1 it is connected to a suitable supply of pressurized dry powder re extinguishing agent. When the handle 9 is in the position away from the inlet 2 the valve members 20 and 21 engage their seats 17 and 19 closing off a discharge from the nozzles. Upon the movement of the handle member 9 to an intermediate position towards the inlet 2, the detent member ball 56 is engaged in its recess 55 and the lobe 47 of the cam member 45 through contact with its cam follower ball member 87 has moved the valve operating rod 65 and the valve stem operating member 62 to unseat the valve member 20, thereby providing fluid communication means between the inlet 2 and the discharge horn 10 to provide a low velocity discharge of the dry powder iire extinguishing agent. Upon further movement of the handle 9 towards the inlet 2 the lobe 47 of the cam member 45 has passed its cam follower ball member 87 allowing the spring 94 to return the valve operating rod 65 and thus the valve member 20 into its seated position, thereby closing off discharge through the discharge horn 10. At the same time the cam lobe 48 of the cam member 46 has engaged its cam follower ball member S9 and moved the valve operating rod 66 and the valve stem 64 to unseat the valve member 21, thereby providing fluid communication means between the inlet 2 and the discharge tube 11 to provide a high velocity discharge of the dry powder re extinguishing agent.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A valve comprising a valve body having an inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet offset at one end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body and the outlet at the opposite end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body, means in the valve body dening a valve operating chamber in alignment with the outlet and positioned at one side of the offset inlet, means in the valve body defining a valve chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, valve seat means about the outlet in the valve chamber, a valve member in the valve chamber adapted to engage the valve seat, a valve stem for the valve member extending into the valve operating chamber, sealing means about the valve stem closing off uid communication between the valve chamber and the valve operating chamber, a shaft extending across the valve operating chamber, enlarged bearing means for the shaft at each end thereof, the bearing means journalled in the wall of the operating chamber, end members at opposite ends of the shaft positioned outwardly of the bearing means, the end members preventing axial movement of the shaft, a valve operating the valve members extending rod at one end operatively engaging the valve stem, guideway means in the valve body for the valve operating rod, spring means at the other end of the valve operating rod urging the valve operating rod into valve member seating position, the valve operating rod having two slots therethrough one slot being at right angles to the other slot, the shaft extending through one slot, a cam member carried by the shaft for rotation thereby, the cam member positioned in the other slot in the valve operating rod, ball bearing means in the valve operating rod providing bearsurfaces for the cam member, and a handle engaging at least one of the end members for rotation of the shaft, the handle swingable in the directions toward the inlet and towards the outlet, the valve member being closed when the handle is towards the outlet.

2. A dual valve comprising a valve body having an inlet and dual outlets, the inlet oset at one end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body and the dual outlets at the opposite end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body, means in the valve body defining a valve operating chamber in alignment with the dual outlets and positioned at one side of the offset inlet, means in the valve body deiining a valve chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and outlets, valve seat means about the outlets in the valve chamber, dual valve members in the valve chamber adapted to engage the valve seats, valve stems for into the valve operating chamber, sealing means about the valve stems closing off fluid communication between the valve chamber and the valve operating chamber, a shaft extending across the valve operating chamber, enlarged bearing means for the shaft at each end thereof, the bearing means journalled in the wall of the operating chamber, end members at opposite ends of the shaft positioned outwardly of the bearing means, sealing means interposed between the walls of the valve operating chamber and the end members, the end members preventing axial movement of the shaft, valve operating rods at one end operatively engaging the valve stems, guideway means in the valve body for the valve operating rods, spring means at the other ends of the valve operating rods urging the valve operating rods into valve member seating positions, the valve operating rods double slotted, one pair of slots being at right angles to the other pair, the shaft extending through one pair of slots, a pair of cam members carried by the shaft for rotation thereby, the cam members positioned in the other pair of slots in the valve operating rods, ball bearing means in the valve operating rods providing bearing surfaces for the cam members, and a handle engaging at least one of the end members for rotation of the shaft, the handle swingable in the directions towards the inlet and towards the outlets, both of the valve members being closed when the handle is towards the outlets.

3. A dual valve comprising a valve body having an inlet and dual outlets, the inlet offset at one end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body and the dual outlets at the opposite end of the longitudinal axis of the valve body, means in the valve body defining a valve operating chamber in alignment with the dual outlets and positioned at one side of the offset inlet, means in the valve body defining a valve chamber in iluid communication with the inlet and outlets, valve seat means about the outlets in the valve chamber, dual valve members in the valve chamber adapted to engage the valve seats, valve stems for the valve members extending into the valve operating chamber, sealing means about the valve stems closing off uid communication between the valve chamber and the valve operating chamber, a shaft extending across the valve operating chamber, enlarged bearing means for the shaft at each end thereof, the bearing means journalled in the wall of the operating chamber, end members at opposite ends of the shaft positioned outwardly of the bearing means, sealing means interposed between the walls of the valve operating chamber and the end members, the end members preventing axial movement of the shaft, valve operating rods at one end operatively engaging the valve stems, guideway means in the Valve body for the valve operating rods, spring means at the other ends of the valve operating rods urging the valve operating rods into valve member seating positions, the valve operating rods double slotted, one pair of slots being at right angles to the other pair, the shaft extending through one pair of slots, a pair of cam members carried by the shaft for rotation thereby, the cam members positioned in the other pair of slots in the valve operating rods, ball bearing means in the valve operating rods providing bearing surfaces for the cam members, the cam members positioned with their lobes about 45 degrees apart, and a handle engaging at least one of the end members for rotation of the shaft, the handle swingable in the directions towards the inlet and towards the outlets, both of the valve members being closed when the handle is towards the outlets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A VALVE COMPRISING A VALVE BODY HAVING AN INLET AND AT LEAST ONE OUTLET, THE INLET OFFSET AT ONE END OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE VALVE BODY AND THE OUTLET AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE VALVE BODY, MEANS IN THE VALVE BODY DEFINING A VALVE OPERATING CHAMBER IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OUTLET AND POSITIONED AT ONE SIDE OF THE OFFSET INLET, MEANS IN THE VALVE BODY DEFINING A VALVE CHAMBER IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE INLET AND OUTLET, VALVE SEAT MEANS ABOUT THE OUTLET IN THE VALVE CHAMBER, A VALVE MEMBER IN THE VALVE CHAMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE VALVE SEAT, A VALVE STEM FOR THE VALVE MEMBER EXTENDING INTO THE VALVE OPERATING CHAMBER, SEALING MEANS ABOUT THE VALVE STEM CLOSING OFF FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE VALVE CHAMBER AND THE VALVE OPERATING CHAMBER, A SHAFT EXTENDING ACROSS THE VALVE OPERATING CHAMBER, ENLARGED BEARING MEANS FOR THE SHAFT AT EACH END THEREOF, THE BEARING MEANS JOURNALLED IN THE WALL OF THE OPERATING CHAMBER, END MEMBERS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SHAFT POSITIONED OUTWARDLY OF THE BEARING MEANS, THE END MEMBERS PREVENTING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT, A VALVE OPERATING ROD AT ONE END OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE VALVE STEM, GUIDEWAY MEANS IN THE VALVE BODY FOR THE VALVE OPERATING ROD, SPRING MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE VALVE OPERATING ROD URGING THE VALVE OPERATING ROD INTO VALVE MEMBER SEATING POSITION, THE VALVE OPERATING ROD HAVING TWO SLOTS THERETHROUGH ONE SLOT BEING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE OTHER SLOT, THE SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH ONE SLOT, A CAM MEMBER CARRIED BY THE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREBY, THE CAM MEMBER POSITIONED IN THE OTHER SLOT IN THE VALVE OPERATING ROD, BALL BEARING MEANS IN THE VALVE OPERATING ROD PROVIDING BEARSURFACES FOR THE CAM MEMBER, AND A HANDLE ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE OF THE END MEMBERS FOR ROTATION OF THE SHAFT, THE HANDLE SWINGABLE IN THE DIRECTIONS TOWARD THE INLET AND TOWARDS THE OUTLET, THE VALVE MEMBER BEING CLOSED WHEN THE HANDLE IS TOWARDS THE OUTLET. 